Jake Bean Wins AHL Defenseman Of The Year
After handing out the top goaltending honors yesterday, the AHL continued today by announcing the top defenseman. The Eddie Shore Award has been given to Jake Bean of the Charlotte Checkers after a vote from coaches, players and media members around the league.
Bean, 21, isn’t just another AHL defenseman. Drafted 13th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2016 he is still one of the top defensive prospects in the game, even if it has taken him a few years to reach the NHL. 2019-20 served as his second full season in the AHL and after making the All-Rookie Team and winning a Calder Cup championship in his first, it was hard to believe he could take another step forward.
A step forward he did take however, scoring 48 points in 59 games with the Checkers and landing a spot on the league’s First All-Star Team. The defenseman of the year award is just a cherry on top of an outstanding season, one that should probably be Bean’s last in the AHL.
Still under his entry-level contract in 2020-21, Bean represents an inexpensive option for the Hurricanes if they decide to shed some salary from the back end. After acquiring Brady Skjei midseason it may be difficult to keep around others like Joel Edmundson and Trevor van Riemsdyk—who are both scheduled for unrestricted free agency—meaning there could be an additional opportunity in the NHL.
That’s not guaranteed however, as Carolina still has Skjei, Jaccob Slavin, Jake Gardiner, Brett Pesce and Dougie Hamilton penciled into full-time roles for the time being. Haydn Fleury is also still around, though he needs a new contract as an RFA. The Hurricanes may be the most difficult blueline in the league to crack for a young player, but at this point it’s hard to argue Bean could have done anything more to prove he is ready for the next level.
Kaapo Kahkonen Wins AHL Goalie Of The Year
The minor leagues were absolutely littered with high-end goaltending prospects this season, but only one could take home the Aldege “Baz” Bastien Memorial Award as the league’s best netminder. That honor was given to Kaapo Kahkonen of the Iowa Wild today, after a vote from coaches, players, and media around the league.
Kahkonen, 23, was a fourth-round pick of the Minnesota Wild way back in 2014, but only came over to North America for the 2018-19 campaign. He was named to the AHL All-Star Game and led the league in shutouts during his first season, but took another huge step forward this year.
In 34 appearances, Kahkonen registered a .927 save percentage and led the league in wins (25) and shutouts (7). Iowa ended up with the best record in franchise history, partly because of his strong play in net.
Kahkonen also received his first opportunity in the NHL, playing in five games for Minnesota. The young goaltender posted a .913 save percentage in those games, a good indication that he’ll be able to handle the transition at some point in the future.
Snapshots: Henderson, UAH, Lizotte
The Vegas Golden Knights new AHL affiliate will announce their team name on Thursday night, revealing the logo they will use for the 2020-21 season (should it happen) as well. The team, which will eventually play out of Henderson, Nevada is expected to be named the Henderson Silver Knights (although Murder Hornets was also a popular choice).
The Henderson City Council recently approved $42MM in funding for a new arena to house the AHL franchise, though it is not expected to be ready until 2022. For now, they will play games at Orleans Arena just a few blocks away from T-Mobile Arena, the home of the Golden Knights.
- If you’re one of those fans disappointed by the recent news that the University of Alabama-Huntsville had canceled their men’s hockey program due to financial concerns, you have a chance to help. The hockey community has started a GoFundMe to try and save the Chargers, working out a deal with the school to keep the program in place if it raises $1MM by the end of the week. Cam Talbot, the school’s most notable hockey alumni, is even spreading the word in hopes that his former program won’t be shut down.
- Jon Lizotte has re-signed with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for 2020-21, returning on an AHL contract after starting his professional career this season. The former St. Cloud State defenseman scored 17 points in 59 games for WBS but still won’t be on an NHL deal when hockey kicks back up. The 25-year old would need to take a substantial development step to really challenge for an NHL roster spot in the future.
Snapshots: Ozhiganov, Veilleux, Saganiuk
Standout KHL defenseman Igor Ozhiganov has secured some consistency in his career, at least for a little while. Ozhiganov initially left the KHL and CSKA Moscow after eight years following the 2017-18 season to sign in the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs. After a good but not great debut season with Toronto, Ozhiganov opted to return home to Russia, signing with Ak Bars Kazan. However, Kazan traded the top defender for fellow NHL vet Viktor Tikhonov early in the season. Ozhiganov headed to SKA St. Petersburg, where he enjoyed one of the best stretches of his KHL career with 12 points in 35 games. Elite blue liners are often hard to come by in the KHL and SKA has decided not to let Ozhiganov go. The club has announced a new two-year extension that will keep Ozhiganov in St. Petersburg until the 2022 off-season. At that time, Ozhiganov will still be just 29 years old, but an NHL comeback seems unlikely. However, if he continues to perform at a high level with one of the top clubs in the KHL, that could certainly change.
- The AHL’s Laval Rocket got lucky this season when a midseason tryout turned into one of their more productive players. Quebec native Yannick Veilleux, who had previously played with Laval in 2017-18, re-joined the club mid-year after playing in the ECHL and proceeded to record 12 goals and 20 points in 26 games. It was the 27-year-old forward’s best AHL season by far and has now earned him a second chance. The Rocket have announced a one-year, one-way extension for Veilleux, who finished second only to Riley Barber in per-game scoring for Laval this season. The team hopes he can replicate that success next year, while Veilluex himself hopes another strong season could lead to an NHL contract.
- The next stage of 17-year-old USNTDP forward Colby Saganiuk’s developmental path will still take place in Pennsylvania, but now with a different team. Saganiuk, who calls Pittsburgh home, was drafted by the nearby Erie Otters last year but was also being pursued by Penn State University as well. Earlier this season, Saganiuk made the decision to join the NCAA rather than the OHL when he committed to Penn State. However, he has now reversed that decision. The Otters have announced that Saganiuk has signed his OHL contract and will join the club next season. While it is possible for a college player to leave for the Canadian juniors, the opposite is not allowed, meaning Saganiuk has given up the option of the NCAA route. This change of decision is likely tied to Saganiuk’s poor 2019-20 season. Considered one of the top players on the USNTDP U-17 squad, Saganiuk instead saw limited action and struggled to produce. Rather than stick with the developmental program for another year before joining the Nittany Lions, it seems Saganiuk has opted for a change of scenery sooner rather than later by committing to Erie. Whether he is able to bounce back next season and revive his draft stock remains to be seen, but Saganiuk will be an interesting player to watch in the junior ranks next season.
Prospect Notes: Kaprizov, CHL Defensemen, Draft
The Minnesota Wild and their fans are still waiting to see Kirill Kaprizov hit the ice with the team five years after they drafted him. The 23-year old forward is widely regarded as one of the best players outside the NHL, but for years there was little indication he wanted to come to North America. Now that there is—Kaprizov has made it clear that he is ready to sign with the Wild—the current league pause is getting in the way.
Despite being on the reserve list of the Wild, Kaprizov (and other players like him in similar situations around the league) isn’t being allowed to sign with the team for the 2019-20 season because of the current pause. Minnesota GM Bill Guerin is still holding out hope that the league will change their mind, telling Dan Myers of NHL.com that both sides are just taking it “day-by-day” and not jumping into an agreement for 2020-21 until it is necessary. As Michael Russo of The Athletic (subscription required) has explained several times, a delayed start to 2020-21 could pose a threat for the Wild should Kaprizov decide he doesn’t want to wait around for the season to begin, but it does seem like finally, both sides are on the same page.
- Each of the three leagues that make up the CHL have announced their Defenseman of the Year awards. Ty Smith repeats for the WHL, taking home the award for the second consecutive season and joining Kris Russell, Dion Phaneuf and Nolan Baumgartner as the only back-to-back winners. The New Jersey Devils prospect recorded 59 points in 46 games for the Spokane Chiefs and looks ready to make the jump to the NHL in short order. Noel Hoefenmayer doesn’t have quite the same name recognition as Smith, given that he was a fourth-round pick in 2017 and failed to sign with the Arizona Coyotes, but he was just as impressive this year in the OHL. Hoefenmayer recorded 82 points in 58 games for the Ottawa 67’s, an incredible total even if he was playing his over-age season. Hoefenmayer recently signed an AHL contract with the Toronto Marlies, his hometown minor league team. Jordan Spence takes home the award for the QMJHL, more exciting news for the Los Angeles Kings whose prospect pool is bursting at the seams with talent. As Scott Wheeler of The Athletic points out on Twitter, Spence now has a QMJHL Rookie of the Year and Defenseman of the Year award in his cabinet, but still isn’t even one of the very best prospects in the Kings’ system.
- Everyone is waiting to see when the draft will be for this season, but the push to have it take place in June before finishing the season has seemingly come to an end. In fact, Bob McKenzie of TSN asked some general manager around the league yesterday, who told him they have “no clue” on when it will be. McKenzie reports that the entire focus is on returning to play right now and that the decision on when to hold the draft “won’t be made anytime soon.”
AHL Announces 2019-20 First, Second All-Star Teams
After revealing their All-Rookie Team yesterday, the AHL has handed out another set of accolades for the best players in the league. The 2019-20 First and Second All-Star selections have been released, awards that are voted on by coaches players and media. Impressively, two of those All-Rookie players are also among All-Star groups—Joshua Norris and Brogan Rafferty.
While these teams do not predict future NHL success as well as the All-Rookie group, there are still plenty of NHL stars that have been awarded AHL All-Star honors in the past. This year’s group is especially young, including seven players age 23 and under.
First All-Star Team:
G Kaapo Kahkonen, Iowa Wild (Minnesota Wild)
D Jake Bean, Charlotte Checkers (Carolina Hurricanes)
D Brennan Menell, Iowa Wild (Minnesota Wild)
LW Reid Boucher, Utica Comets (Vancouver Canucks)
C Joshua Norris, Belleville Senators (Ottawa Senators)
RW Sam Anas, Iowa Wild (Minnesota Wild)
Second All-Star Team:
G Connor Ingram, Milwaukee Admirals (Nashville Predators)
D Jacob MacDonald, Colorado Eagles (Colorado Avalanche)
D Brogan Rafferty, Utica Comets (Vancouver Canucks)
LW Gerald Mayhew, Iowa Wild (Minnesota Wild)
C Alex Barre-Boulet, Syracuse Crunch (Tampa Bay Lightning)
RW Drake Batherson, Belleville Senators (Ottawa Senators)
Jesper Olofsson Signs AHL Contract
Victor Olofsson scored 20 goals and 42 points in his rookie year with the Buffalo Sabres, so the organization is climbing the family tree. Jesper Olofsson, his older brother, has signed a one-year contract with the Rochester Americans of the AHL for the 2020-21 season. He spent the last five seasons in the SHL, but will try his hand on North American ice next season.
Olofsson, 28, was never a top prospect in Sweden, failing to earn himself a spot in the World Juniors or a draft pick from the NHL. Instead, he slowly made his way through the ranks until finding success as an older rookie in the SHL during the 2015-16 season. Since then he’s been a capable member of whatever SHL he played for, but it’s hard to imagine him becoming an impact NHL talent at this point.
What he can do however is provide some experience to the Rochester squad while giving his younger brother a little comfort in his sophomore season. If his proximity gives Victor any sort of confidence boost, you can bet the Sabres will chalk the signing up as a win regardless of how he performs at the AHL level.
AHL Announces 2019-20 All-Rookie Team
Now that the AHL season is officially over, awards and accolades will start pouring out for its players. Today, the league announced the 2019-20 All-Rookie Team, which is voted on by coaches, players, and media. Though not a guarantee of future NHL success, the AHL rookie team has a long history of star players including captains, Stanley Cup champions, and future Hall of Fame members.
The 2019-20 selections:
G Cayden Primeau, Laval Rocket (Montreal Canadiens)
D Joey Keane, Hartford Wolf Pack/Charlotte Checkers (Carolina Hurricanes)
D Brogan Rafferty, Utica Comets (Vancouver Canucks)
F Alex Formenton, Belleville Senators (Ottawa Senators)
F Joshua Norris, Belleville Senators (Ottawa Senators)
F Jack Studnicka, Providence Bruins (Boston Bruins)
Washington Capitals Extend AHL Affiliation
The Washington Capitals and Hershey Bears will be back together for several more years. The two organizations have announced a new affiliation agreement that runs through 2023-24. Capitals GM Brian MacLellan released a statement:
We have enjoyed our long-lasting partnership with the Hershey Bears and are excited to extend our affiliation. Hershey has a tremendous history within the American Hockey League. They are well-run and a first-class organization. We believe the franchise’s winning culture provides our prospects with the best opportunity to develop.
The two teams have been affiliated for the last 15 years, during which Hershey has experienced an incredible amount of success. They have made the playoffs in 12 of the affiliated seasons while winning three Calder Cup championships.
Washington too has experienced a ton of success, as they continue to develop and produce quality NHL talent from their pipeline in Hershey. A huge portion of the 2019-20 roster has spent at least some time with the Bears.
One of the best examples of the partnership perhaps is with Ilya Samsonov, the Capitals young star goaltender. Already three years into his professional career in Russia, Samsonov came over this season and was originally assigned to the minor leagues. There’s no doubt that the structure and success of Hershey helped convince him to spend some time there, getting his feet wet before making his breakthrough into the NHL.
Hershey continues to lead the AHL in attendance, drawing over 8,700 fans per game this season.
AHL Notes: Capitals, Next Season, Vegas Affiliate
Hershey has been the AHL affiliate for the Capitals since 2005 and it appears that pairing will continue. Bears president Bryan Helmer told reporters, including J.J. Regan of NBC Sports Washington, that while the affiliation agreement is up at the end of the season (suggesting the official expiration is in the next month or two), they are in talks with Washington about an extension to that agreement. In the meantime, Helmer indicated that he has been in talks with management from the Caps regarding which players they’d like to see brought back for next season which is a strong indication that both sides expect to get an affiliation extension completed in the near future.
Other news and notes from around the AHL:
- While it’s possible that league play could return next season without fans, outgoing AHL president David Andrews told ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski that in that scenario, it’s unlikely that all 31 teams would participate. While 19 of the 31 teams are owned by their parent NHL franchise, the other 12 are locally-owned. Those ones may not have the financial wherewithal or willingness to run without their primary source of revenue. In the past, teams without AHL affiliates have partnered up with other teams to loan some prospects out and that would be a likely scenario for the 2020-21 campaign.
- The Golden Knights’ affiliate will be closer to home next season as they will be playing out of the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. However, their time there may be short-lived. Blake Apgar of the Las Vegas Review-Journal relays information about the proposed arena in Henderson that would be the home of their AHL squad in the near future. The facility, which will be voted on next week, is slated to cost $80MM and be split between the city and the Golden Knights. If approved, the target opening would be for the 2022-23 season.